High-content and high-throughput analysis of single cell protein signatures is a long-sought but elusive goal in cell biology. Such analysis is crucial to understanding how non-genetic cell-to-cell variability impacts behavior, as well as to reconstruct intracellular signaling networks at the systems level, both of which have significant implications in human health and disease. Currently, there is no high dimensional, robust single cell analysis technology platform that meets all three ofthe following requirements, (i) Single cell sensitivity: proteins can be isolated and sensitively measured from a single cell, (ii) High multiplicity: a large panel of proteins can be simultaneously measured from a single cell, (iii) High content: thousands of single cells can be analyzed in parallel in order to reveal cellular heterogeneity in response to perturbations. Herein we propose to develop and fully validate a high content and high-throughput single cell technology that integrates microfluidic cell handling and an ultra-high density protein microarray. The integrated microchip will allow analysis of 1000 single cells for each of which levels of up to 60 proteins will be measured. The device will enable detection of intracellular proteins in single cells following cell lysis in the chip, with simultaneous measurement of secreted cytokines. We will validate the integrated microchip in multiple cell lines and benchmark its performance against comparable technologies. Finally, we will collect a systematic single cell data set of protein signals and secreted cytokines in the HT-29 cell line in response to TNF, EGF, and insulin stimulation to demonstrate the utility ofthe integrated microchip for revealing how proteomic heterogeneity impacts signal transduction and cell behavior. Responsiveness: This project addresses a major goal of this U01 program: to substantially adapt a technology to improve the scope and throughput of perturbation-induced cellular signature data generation. The ability to do multiplexed analysis of protein levels in single cells is complementary to other LINCS efforts that focus on population-based analyses. This technology is transferrable to a broad range of human cell lines, and has the potential to mature into a standardized, integrated and robust platform within two years.

Public Health Relevance

Non-genetic heterogeneity is emerging as a significant challenge in therapeutic responses to drugs, such as fractional killing in cancer therapy. The single cell proteomics technology described in this proposal has great potential to become a pharmacological tool to evaluate treatment efficacy, as well as a clinical tool for informative diagnosis and stratification of patients to enable individualized treatment.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project--Cooperative Agreements (U01)
Project #
3U01CA164252-02S1
Application #
8727132
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-BST-P (54))
Program Officer
Li, Jerry
Project Start
2011-09-16
Project End
2014-08-31
Budget Start
2013-09-01
Budget End
2014-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$591,398
Indirect Cost
$233,988
Name
Yale University
Department
Engineering (All Types)
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
043207562
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06520
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Xue, Qiong; Lu, Yao; Eisele, Markus R et al. (2015) Analysis of single-cell cytokine secretion reveals a role for paracrine signaling in coordinating macrophage responses to TLR4 stimulation. Sci Signal 8:ra59
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Lu, Yao; Chen, Jonathan J; Mu, Luye et al. (2013) High-throughput secretomic analysis of single cells to assess functional cellular heterogeneity. Anal Chem 85:2548-56